Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/29/2016

Memorial Day means motor sports, and a rookie stole the show at the premier event in the United States.  The Indianapolis 500 celebrated its 100th running with 300,000 fans (over 4 times the number that attend the Super Bowl) jamming the Brickyard for the official kickoff for summer.  And fuel became the name of the game, as an American rookie Alexander Rossi was able to finish on fumes edging equally unknown racers Carlos Munoz and Josef Newgarden.  The key was, don't stop for fuel.  Most cars had to make one final stop and Rossi gambled and won.  The 24 year-old etches his name in history with a laurel and gallon of milk.  They can never take it away from him, nor his award for Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week.

Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/22/2016

In an extremely busy sports week of NHL and NBA playoffs along with MLB performances and other spring sports, we go back to the ponies.  A year after the first Triple Crown winner in nearly 40 years, fans were salivating over a back-to-back Triple Crown performance from Nyquist, who was perfect in his 8 career starts.  But it was not to be, thanks to an outstanding ride by jockey Kent Desormeaux on Exaggerator in the sloppy track Preakness Stakes.  With Nyquist going off as a better than 50/50 prop, quietly Kent and his brother trainer of Exaggerator Keith Desormeaux had confidence.  Part of it in that Nyquist hadn't had to bounce back in two weeks.  Another part the impressive win by Exaggerator in muddy conditions in the Santa Anita Stakes.  At the end, Desormeaux rode a perfect race.  Desormeaux stayed off an unrealistic, blistering pace set by Uncle Lino that some question why Nyquist kept up with.  In the end, Exaggerator, the Kentucky Derby runner up, had way more gas down the stretch.  Dusting Nyquist and Cherry Wine (who actually Placed vs. Nyquist's Show).  It takes a great jockey to beat a great horse, and Desormeaux did that.  He's our Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/15/2016

Pitching performances have been top notch so far this year with Chris Sale already at 8 wins, a no-hitter by Jake Arrieta, and now something even more rare than a perfect game.  A 20 strikeout game.  Max Scherzer was downright filthy in striking out 20 Detroit Tigers, that being his former team.  Two solo home runs made the 3-2 tilt close.  Victor Martinez is the only player not to strike out, accounting for 4 of the 13 at bats that did not result in a K.  The Washington Nationals high price ace joins Roger Clemens, Kerry Wood, and Randy Johnson in the exclusive club.  It's his second nod as Sportsman of the Week (his second nod)!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/8/2016

This blog loves the wide world of sports and the Kentucky Derby is on top of the list of favorite sports events.  The 142nd edition did not disappoint.  Okay, maybe it did a little bit as bettors never like when the favorite wins.  But when they do it in impressive fashion that is fun to watch.  Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Nyquist easily outpaced the field for his 8th win in 8 starts.  Gutierrez rode brilliantly, stalking the known pace setter in Danzing Candy, taking an efficient path around the turns, then lightly pressing the horse down the stretch without needing to panic.  It was his second time to win the Derby (in two starts) from the 13th position or wider with the same strategy.  The native of Mexico will go for the second leg of the triple crown in Baltimore in two weeks, but he is our Sportsman of the Week!

Gutierrez also sets a record for longest duration between Sportsman of the Week nods at 207 weeks.

Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/1/2016

Another busy sports week with a number of huge playoff games in the NBA.  One team took control of an injury-laden Los Angeles Clippers and surged to the second round despite not having home field.  Led by Damian Lillard, the Portland Trailblazers won four straight games to move on an face the World Champion Golden State Warriors.  After losing high profile free agent LaMarcus Aldridge and a number of other key pieces from last year, Lillard stepped up his game.  In the final three contests against the Blazers, Lillard netted 62 points to lead the way.  In the opener against the Warriors, he scored 30 points in a losing effort.  Most impressive he was behind the line, going 15-35 for the four games during the week.  Lillard may have been snubbed for the All-Star team, but he's our Sportsman of the Week!